Arcade Collecting > Pinball

FLIPPER PIN LOOSE

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jteexy:
If there is a better forum for repair ideas and tips, could someone let me know?  I'm down to the last few minor problems on my pin, and one keeps coming back.  My right flipper keeps coming loose.  There are 2 allen set screws holding it in place, and no matter how tight i make them, it loosens right up, during the first play.  Should I try some lock-tite, or do you think something is worn out?The machine is a Gottlieb Big Hurt. 

lilshawn:
"pinwiki.com" is a side project here. it's still fairly new so it's not 100% complete...but may have what you are looking for.

pbj:
I'd loosen them and pull the flippers out.  Take a look.  I suspect you've got wear on the shaft from where a loose flipper was dragging back and forth across the bolt.  Or the bolt is worn and you may be getting really tight but it's not actually putting much pressure.

So, three options.  I've done all three at various times. 

1 - buy replacement flipper bats and shafts.  (been awhile since I've owned a Gottlieb System3, I think what you're looking for is a "shoe and shaft")
2 - swap your left and right flippers so that the wear on your right one doesn't line up with the bolts on the left assembly. 
3 - replace the allen bolt with something a little bit longer and torque that sumbitch down.

 :cheers:

Xiaou2:

--- Quote from: jteexy on August 28, 2022, 07:27:39 am ---If there is a better forum for repair ideas and tips, could someone let me know?  I'm down to the last few minor problems on my pin, and one keeps coming back.  My right flipper keeps coming loose.  There are 2 allen set screws holding it in place, and no matter how tight i make them, it loosens right up, during the first play.  Should I try some lock-tite, or do you think something is worn out?The machine is a Gottlieb Big Hurt.

--- End quote ---

 The very first thing I did with any Pinball machine that I bought... was to buy a replacement flipper kit.   They are literally the most
critical component of your machines gameplay.  They also endure the most use, and thus, are often worn out.

 The first thing that usually wears, is the plastic Bearing, that holds the shaft in place.  If that is worn even a little bit.. it can cause the
flippers to be at various angles, and that will cause faster wear, as well as potentially hitting the ball with incorrect vectors.  For example,
if the ball was hit with an upwards vector, if could cause the ball to hop up and hit the glass, on certain power hits.. far more often than not.

 Im used to the Williams assemblies... and they have a strong bolt, that is rare to loosen from the shafts.  But, it still can and does happen.
The biggest problem Ive had with Willams assemblies, is with the worn End of Stroke assembly.  If the rubberized cap is too worn,
it can blast past the leafswitch and potentially get stuck on the leafs themselves... leaving the flipper stuck "Up".

 You can replace individual parts as needed.. but I found it was just better to buy the entire replacement Kits.. because if at least one part
has been worn down... the rest of the parts are also usually effected.  And at that point.. might as well have everything brand new.  Especially
better than risking another worn part... to cause wear to the new part you just installed.  (such as replacing the flipper.. but not the worn
flipper bearing, that has way too much play... and caused the flipper wear to begin with)

Edit:

 One thing to also check, is the integrity of the actual plastic itself.  If, for example, there was a hairline crack in the place where the shaft
goes into the flipper  (in williams, I believe the shaft is permanently melted into place)..  then no matter how well you tightened the allens,
the thing would keep working its way loose (bolts would still be tight, but flipper would not be in the correct Orientation).

 The threaded holes, might also be either cracked, or partially stripped.

 As PBJ stated, it could be an issue with a worn shaft... but might also have been caused by a broken Bat.

Malenko:
www.pinside.com 

Follow Jim's advice.

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